CPJ protests attacks on journalists

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly alarmed by the continuing pattern of intimidation and violence against journalists by Serbian special police and military in Kosovo. In particular the organisation is distressed by a recent incident in which special police, posing as journalists, infiltrated an international press pool that was following a motorcade of diplomats around the […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly alarmed by the continuing pattern of
intimidation and violence against journalists by Serbian special police and
military in Kosovo. In particular the organisation is distressed by a recent
incident in which special police, posing as journalists, infiltrated an
international press pool that was following a motorcade of diplomats around
the conflict zone. Such conduct presents grave safety risks for
correspondents in the area.

**This alert contains information further to IFEX alerts of 23 June and 8
July 1998**
On 6 July 1998, nearly 50 correspondents joined a convoy of envoys in a
trial run of the so-called Kosovo Observer Mission touring the Kosovo
countryside to survey the aftermath of battles between the Serb military and
the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). As a pool video cameraman walked alongside
the convoy filming its approach to Prekaz, a red car with press markings
occupied by three men in civilian clothes suddenly swerved toward him,
nearly striking him. When the motorcade stopped near the town, two
journalists who were part of the pool, Kurt Schork of Reuters and Anthony
Lloyd of “The Times” of London, approached the occupants of the red car to
complain about the incident. Schork and Lloyd then turned away and started
walking toward the center of town. Several minutes later, one of the red
cars’ occupants grabbed Schork by the shoulder, turned him around and
punched him hard in the face. Provoked by the attack, Lloyd struck the
unidentified man, who then retaliated with two karate kicks to Lloyd’s
chest, breaking two of his ribs. The incident took place in front of the
eight foreign envoys on the mission, who identified the occupants of the red
car as Serbian special police (see IFEX alert of 8 July 1998).

CPJ is also distressed by a 22 June 1998 attack on a Danish TV2 crew, which
was targeted by Serbian soldiers near the Glogovac mine. Correspondent Neils
Brinch, cameraman Heinrik Gram and an Albanian interpreter who asked not to
be identified, were heading back to Pristina in their rented armored car
after they were turned away by guards at a KLA checkpoint at Glogovac. The
vehicle they rented, painted white, was typical of the kind used by
journalists to cover the conflict. The crew felt two shots fired at their
car, prompting Brinch to stop. A Serb soldier in uniform ran up to their car
and pointed his gun at the crew. As soon as Brinch lifted up his arms to
show he was unarmed, the soldier started shooting at the crew’s car. Brinch
sped away from the scene. Although no one was
hurt, the crew found 21 bullet marks on the armored vehicle (see IFEX alert
of 23 June 1998).

CPJ strongly protests these violent actions by Serbian soldiers and special
police against journalists carrying out their professional duties. The
infiltration of Serbian agents, posing as journalists, into the first
international observer mission in Kosovo represents a grave breach of
security and violates all international norms that guarantee journalists the
right to freely and safely practice their profession.

Recommended Action

His Excellency Slobodan Milosevic

President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Fax: +381 11 656 862